Philip Joseph Cavarretta

B: Jul 19, 1916, Chicago, IL

This hometown boy became the Cubs starting first baseman in 1935. He led the NL with 197 hits and a .355 average in 1945, becoming the leagues MVP. Phil batted .423 in the World Series that year, but the Tigers beat the Cubs in seven games. Cavarretta became the team’s player-manager in 1951. Fired in 1953 for telling the Cubs owner, Charles Wrigley, his players were inferior, Phil moved across town to play two more seasons for the White Sox. Cavarretta later coached for the Tigers and Mets, but he remains one of the most beloved players in Cubs history.